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From: hgcjr@utastro.UUCP (Harold G. Corwin Jr.)
Newsgroups: net.astro
Subject: Re: Debate
Message-ID: <476@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Aug-85 14:18:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.476
Posted: Fri Aug  2 14:18:23 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Aug-85 21:49:30 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 32

Dick Pierce at ...!teddy writes:

> I have a proposal to make. Instead of casting the heathens of atrology out
> of the Astronomical temple, let's engage in a cool, rational, scientific
> debate on the merits or lack thereof of astrological principles. It is
> only this way that a homeland can be found for the wandering astrologists.

I don't think this will work.  Astrology is a BELIEF which, by its 
very nature, is not subject to rational debate.  I gave up trying 
to convince my classes that astrology is a waste of time and money 
years ago.  I can prove that it doesn't work in a cool, rational, 
scientific, nonjudgmental manner -- so what?  If someone BELIEVES 
in astrology, my being able to PROVE that it doesn't work won't do 
a thing except earn me (and by association, other astronomers) the 
enmity of the other person or people involved.

Thomas Aquinas wrote an elegant proof in the thirteenth century that 
God does not and can not exist.  Has it made any difference since 
then?  Of course not.  Aquinas even got canonized.

Finally, three pleas to keep in mind as you folks continue this 
debate:  1) Don't jump on other people because they believe in 
something different than you do.  2) Don't call them names under 
ANY circumstances.  And 3) be considerate; it feels nicer to everyone.

Thanks.

Harold G. Corwin, Jr.
uucp: {ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao,charm}!utastro!hgcjr
arpa: hgcjr@utastro.UTEXAS.ARPA
mabell: 512-471-7463
Dept. of Astronomy, RLM 15.308, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-1083